Music plays such an important role in Sal Gonzalez’s
life. He seems to have a song for every occasion.
On any given day, you could find him strumming along
to Eric Church’s Love Your Love the Most, Lee Brice’s
A Woman Like You, or Garth Brooks’ More Than a
Memory.

That love of music has helped Sal persevere through
some tough trials, like his parents’ divorce and his
emotional reaction to the events of 9/11.

“That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says
Sal. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants
propelled me to want to join. I wanted to give back for
all this country has given us.”

Sal joined the Marines on October 21, 2003 and was
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines as a machine
gunner. A year later, he found himself in Ramadi, Iraq,
asked to “give back” much more for his country than he
anticipated.

“I was hit by an IED and was in a coma for about a
week,” says Sal. “I woke up at the National Naval
Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Months later
my left leg was amputated below the knee.”

Sal now utilizes a prosthetic leg, which he says hasn’t
impacted his daily life too much. He tries to exercise
every day to keep his weight down. And nothing will
stop him from making music.

“I work on writing songs every afternoon. Playing
and writing music has always been my passion, and
luckily my injury has not affected that at all. I’m always
striving to improve and earn that next standing ovation
– which I’ve been lucky to have had many in my
career.”

His next goal: a record deal.

“That would be the icing on the cake. But you can
never forget that life has inspiration all around us. Just
look at all the Wounded Warriors who are such good
role models. Those are the men and women I admire
most.”